As creepy as it sounds, kids totally tell teachers how pretty / hot they are. I've been told repeatedly by high schoolers I just met how pretty I am. I grew up as a tomboy and never saw myself as attractive so either they genuinely think I'm pretty or they're fucking with me.

You're talking about highschoolers, bro. These are 5 year olds. And even 5 year olds don't say it all the time. And including the stuff about the parents? C'mon, maybe one or two comments might be believable, but putting this into context it's totally absurd and not real. 80% hyperbole I'd imagine.